Before tile goes down, the slab needs tolerance correction, moisture control, or crack isolation. Laticrete NXT self-leveling underlayments, Drytek moisture barriers, and Strata Mat crack-isolation membranes handle that layer. Boston Concrete installs the matched Laticrete product so the tile installer's Laticrete thinset and warranty path stay whole.
A tile project lives or dies on the substrate. If the slab is out of tolerance, moisture-laden, or cracked, the tile finish will fail no matter how good the thinset is. Laticrete underlayments solve that: NXT SLU brings the slab to the flatness the tile installer needs, Drytek blocks moisture from below, and Strata Mat crack-isolation prevents substrate movement from telegraphing through to the tile surface.
When the tile installer is specifying Laticrete thinset and waterproofing, the underlayment layer should also be Laticrete. This keeps the whole-system warranty intact. We assess the slab, pick the right Laticrete product (NXT for tolerance, Drytek for moisture, Strata Mat for cracks), and hand off a tile-ready substrate to the installer.
We measure flatness, check for moisture, look for cracks, and confirm the tile installer's substrate requirements. This determines whether NXT SLU, Drytek, or Strata Mat is the right choice.
Prepare the concrete surface
The slab is ground, cleaned, and primed per Laticrete spec. Any contaminants are removed, moisture issues are addressed, and the primer is applied to ensure proper bonding.
Pour or install the underlayment
NXT SLU is mixed and poured to the target depth for tolerance correction, or Strata Mat is laid and bonded for crack isolation, or Drytek moisture system is installed per the slab condition.
Cure and hand off
After the underlayment cures per Laticrete spec (typically 24-48 hours), the substrate is ready for the tile installer's Laticrete thinset. The warranty path stays intact through the whole assembly.
Brand continuity
Keeping Laticrete System Warranty Intact
Mixing brands at the underlayment layer breaks the Laticrete system warranty, even if the tile install above is 100% Laticrete. The warranty path requires continuity from substrate prep through grout. We deliver Laticrete on the underlayment side because that is what keeps the warranty intact for the tile installer's work on top.
NXT vs Drytek vs Strata Mat, tile-system warranty, substrate match.
NXT SLU for tolerance correction. Drytek for moisture management on suspect slab substrates. Strata Mat crack-isolation for substrates with existing cracks that might telegraph. We pick based on the actual substrate condition.
Yes, the Strata Mat product is engineered to absorb minor substrate movement so cracks in the slab below do not telegraph through to the tile finish. It is essential on certain substrates.
To keep the whole-system warranty path intact. Mixing brands at the underlayment layer breaks the Laticrete system warranty even when the tile install is whole-Laticrete on top.
No, NXT is designed as substrate for tile or other finish. For polished-as-finish projects, a different product is required.
Per Laticrete spec, typically within a day or two depending on the underlayment product and conditions. The tile installer's spec also factors in; we coordinate cure handoff.
Client reviews
What Boston Tile Trades Say About Laticrete Underlayments
Laticrete NXT under my Laticrete thinset. Same brand through whole assembly, my warranty path stayed intact. Substrate was tile-ready when handed off.
Z. K6
Tile Contractor, Boston
★★★★★
They installed Strata Mat crack-isolation on a slab with hairline movement. Two years of seasonal cycle, no telegraph through to the tile. The right tool prevented the problem.
Y. K6
GC, Cambridge
★★★★★
Drytek moisture system on a basement slab that had unmanaged moisture history. The Laticrete spec saved the tile install from delaminating later. Real engineering match.
Q. K6
Renovation Specialist, Somerville
★★★★★
Whole-Laticrete project from substrate through grout. The customer's tile-trade-aware contractor specifically asked for Laticrete; install matched the spec. System discipline paid off.
X. K6
Custom Builder, Quincy
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